Flexible membrane shoe tree



May 8, 1956 c MOSES 2,744,270

' FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE SHOE TREE Filed Nov. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlG.2-A

INVENTOR g/mr/es floses Jaw, Q4

ATTORNEY y 8, 1956 c. MOSES 2,744,270

FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE SHOE TREE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR g/zczr e5 Woses ATTORNEY United States Patent O FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE SHOE TREE Charles Moses, Long Beach, N. 1.

Application November '9, 1953, Serial No. 390,902

4 Claims. (Cl. 12-128.4)

This invention relates to shoe trees.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive shoe tree which is light in weight and upon which a pair of shoes may be placed in a minimum of space and which will hold the shoes and retain them in their original form without stretching or crushing of the shoes or distortingthem because of the gentle resiliency of the shoe tree.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which will be held in position within the toe portion of the shoe by the resilient pressure of the shoe tree without the requirement for a heel supporting member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which is easy to insert withinthe shoe and easy to remove from the shoe and during this process the shoe tree will not scrape the inside of the shoe either upon insertion or removal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which can accommodate many sizes of shoes.

Another object is'to provide a shoe tree which is excellent for traveling'purposes, that is, the shoes may be held upon the shoe tree with a minimum of space and without crushing or stretching of the shoes- A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree upon which a pair of shoes may be placed with a minimum of space, one shoe being inverted and opposed to the other shoe and which is especially adapted for holding a pair of sling back womens shoes.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree unit which may be used for a single shoe and which may be joined to a like member to hold a pair of shoes within a minimum of space.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree wherein the relative forces exerted by the membrane portions of the shoe tree and the front portion of the shoes seated thereon exert forces toward the front of the shoes retaining the shoe tree within the toe portion of the shoes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which may be mounted upon a surface for storing shoes in a closet or in specially constructed shoe bags.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe tree for a pair of shoes.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a sectional view taken through line 2a2a of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of shoe tree for a pair of shoes.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a shoe tree unit and which may be attached to a similar unit to form a shoe tree for a pair of shoes similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 4 and 5, showing two units separably held together by frictional engagement, the shoe tree units ice being inverted and opposed in opposite directions for bold ing a pair of shoes.

Fig. 7 is another modified view of a partial section of the longitudinal membrane of a shoe tree showing an opening permitting the shoe tree to be attached to a surface.

Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, numeral 10 represents a shoe tree comprising a longitudinal membrane 11, having two opposed toe portions 16; each toe portion comprising a pair of side membranes 12 and an upper membrane 13. The longitudinal membrane 11 has a sole portion 14 and a central portion 15. The entire shoe tree 10 is formed of a single piece of material which may be molded plastic, or plastic material bent by heat into the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Of course, the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be made of metal or wood or like materials formed as shown. Furthermore, the side membranes 12 may be welded or riveted or attached by other known means to the toe portion 16, if desired, so that the shoe tree may be formed of three pieces. The entire unit has its outside surfaces slightly convex as shown in Fig. 2a to conform to the inner curvature of the shoe. The free ends of the upper and side membranes 12 and 13, respectively, have a certain degree of gentle resiliency which exert a slight pressure upon the inner portions of the shoe in order to cause the shoe to retain its original shape without stretching or distortion of the shoe. The upper membrane 13 presses upwardly against the upper forward last portion of the shoe while the side membranes press outwardly against the sides of the forward last portion of the shoe. The sole portion 14 exerts a pressure upon the toe sole portion of the shoe so that all the resultant pressures cause the shoe to retain its original form without stretching or distorting the shoe in any way. It should be noted that the side membranes 12 are longer than the upper membrane 13 and extend towards the rear of the shoe beyond the toe portion and that the ends of the membranes 12 are curved inwardly at their ends. The

relative forces exerted by the membranes and the well known shapes of shoes exert forces toward the front of the shoes retaining the shoe tree within the toe portions of the shoes without the requirement of a heel support.

In using the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flexi-- ble membranes are inserted in one of the shoes While theother shoe is inverted and inserted in the opposed position: upon the opposite flexible membranes so that the shoes are inverted with relation to each other'and are directly opposed to one another occupying a minimum of space while the resilient membranes retain the shoes in their original condition without stretching or distortion. Furthermore, in inserting the shoe tree within the shoes there is no scraping or marring of the inner walls and sole of the shoe and the shoe tree may be readily removed also without marring of the shoe.

Referring to Fig. 3, this shoe tree is a modified form and is also made of one piece of material which may be fashioned by injection or stamping and bent under heat and may be of plastic, metal, wood and like materials. This shoe tree comprises a longitudinal membrane 111 having a central portion 115 and upper membrane 113, toe portion 116 and a sole portion 114. A pair of side membranes 112 extend from either side of the toe portion 116, said side membranes being opposed to one another and the opposed pair of side membranes lie in opposite directions and extend from the opposing toe portion 116. It was not thought necessary to show a top view 7 of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 3, since it is very much The upper membranes 113.exert.an upward pressure while the side membranes 112 exert a lateral pressure and the sole portion 114 also exerts a pressure upon the toe sole portion of the shoe. The combined relative forces exerted by the various membranes of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 3 and the well known shapes of shoes upon which the shoe tree is seated exert forces toward the front of the shoe retaining the shoe tree within the toe portions of the shoes without the requirement of a heel support.

Referring to the species shown in Figs. 4 and 5, numeral 210 represents a shoe tree unit which comprises a central longitudinal membrane 211 lying along the longitudinal axis of the shoe tree unit and comprises a sole portion 214, a central portion 215 and an upper membrane 213 and a pair of side membranes 212 very much like one half of the shoe tree shown in the species shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This shoe tree unit may be fashioned of a single piece of material or may be fashioned of two pieces of material, the second piece comprising the side membranes which may be attached to the toe portion 216 by rivets or by welding or by any other well-known means. The central portion 215 has a slot 217 to re ceive a projection 218 of a similar shoe tree unit placed in an inverted and opposed position in which the projection 218 projects through the opening 217 while the projection 218 projects through the opening or slot 217' of the opposite opposed shoe tree unit. The projections and slots are adapted to frictionally sit within one another thus locking the two shoe tree units together to form a compound shoe tree for a pair of shoes which is used in the same manner as heretofore described for Figs. 1 and 2 and the species shown in Fig. 3. In order to provide a better locking means and to provide a degree of resiliency for the projections 218 and 218' a resilient tongue 219 is provided to engage the projections 218 and 218. It will thus be seen that a single shoe tree unit, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, can be used for a single shoe or when two such units are interlocked as heretofore described, can be used for a pair of shoes in the same manner as described for the species shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 6 shows the means of interlocking two such units, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the combined unit is separably interlocked and may receive a pair of shoes in opposed relationship, as described for the species of Figs. 1 and 3.

It is within the scope of this invention not to be limited to the specific locking means shown since other wellknown locking means may be used. Furthermore, the two units may be bonded together by welding, riveting, cementing, gluing, or other means.

Referring to Fig. 7, I have shown the central portion of a shoe tree similar to the species of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, except that the central portion has a transverse opening 320 through which a rod or other attaching unit may be placed to attach the shoe tree to a surface, not shown. A series of such shoe trees may readily be mounted upon a surface for storing shoes in a closet or in specially constructed shoe bags. The side membranes 312 and the sole portions 314 are also shown in Fig. 7.

While it is preferred to make the shoe tree species shown in the various figures of a single piece of material, it may be desirable in some instances to make the shoe tree of several pieces, for example as by attaching the side membranes to the longitudinal membrane at the toe portion by welding, riveting, snap-on or other well-known means of attachment.

While I have shown several preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in size, shape and arrangement of parts without departing from the general spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

From the drawings, it is readily realized that these shoe trees may be manufactured and sold at a nominal cost .and do the job of expensive shoe trees since they are light, strong, flexible .and .durable.

It is also obvious that the shoe trees may be made in several sizes to cover mens, womens and childrens shoes.

It is further obvious that various other means of attaching the shoe tree to a surface may be used other than the species shown in Fig. 7.

I claim:

1. In a shoe tree, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip, an upwardly disposed toe portion having a top central portion at the forward end of said base member, an upper flexible membrane and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree of flexibility at said free ends, said membranes directed towards the central portion of said shoe tree, and a shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said base member, said membranes adapted to engage the toe and vamp portions of a shoe when said shoe tree is inserted in a shoe.

2. In a shoe tree, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip, an upwardly disposed toe portion having a top central portion at the forward end of said base member, an upper flexible membrane and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree of flexibility at said free ends, said membranes directed towards the central portion of said shoe tree, a shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said base member, said shank member having a free end, said upper membrane extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top central portion of said toe portion for disposition over said base member, said upper and opposed side membranes emanating from said toe portion and integral therewith, said membranes adapted to engage the toe and vamp portions of a shoe when said shoe tree is inserted in a shoe.

3. In a shoe tree, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip, an upwardly disposed toe portion at the forward end of said base member, an upper flexible membrane and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree of flexibility at said free ends, said membranes directed towards the central part of said shoe tree, a shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said base member, said shank member having a free end, said upper membrane extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top central portion of said toe portion for disposition over said base member, said upper and opposed side membranes emanating from said toe portion and integral therewith, said free ends of said side membranes curved slightly inwardly towards said base member.

4. In a shoe tree, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip, an upwardly disposed toe portion at the forward end of said base member, an upper flexible membrane and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree of flexibility at said free ends, said membranes directed toward the central part of said shoe tree, a shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said base member, said shank member having a free end, said upper membrane extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top central portion of said too portion for disposition over said base member, said upper and opposed side membranes emanating from said toe portion and integral therewith, said free ends of said side membranes curved slightly inwardly towards said base member, said shank member having co-acting means for the detachable interlocking with the shank of a :like shoe tree in inverse relation whereby two shoes can be seated upon said shoe tree in inverted and opposed relation to one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Montague June 26, 1928 Lazarus Mar. 22, 1938 Brace Apr. 27, 1943 Lau Mar. 13, 1951 Ola May 22, 1951 Norton Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 25, 1899 

